Liberia reports 126 new Ebola cases in past two days

The West Africa Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak jumped by more than 200 cases in the past two days, making it the largest 2-day increase reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Liberia map/CIA

Between 17 and 18 August 2014, a total of 221 new cases of Ebola virus disease (laboratory-confirmed, probable, and suspect cases) as well as 106 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Of the 221 cases reported, 126 were from Liberia, now considered the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak. IN addition, of the 106 newly reported fatalities, 95 are from Liberia.

In the current outbreak, the majority of Ebola virus disease cases are a result of human-to-human transmission and failure to apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures in home care, some clinical settings, and in burial rituals. It is important to understand that EVD is not an airborne disease. Individuals may become infected as a result of contact with the bodily fluids (vomit, diarrhoea, sputum, blood, etc.) from persons who are confirmed to have EVD or who have died from EVD.